The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Connie (Slc, Ut) on 01/11/2011
Hi Sonia; After reading Tom's post to you and the links he provided, I realized that I have had TN, both classic and atypical in the past, and that I may be able to offer some help here. My symptoms were in the lower right jaw, and did result with shocks that made me gasp and jump. In years prior to the shocks, I had TMJ, bruxism, inflammation, and swelling that radiated to the sinus, ear, and neck areas. I've recently had a flare-up, so I've had to shift my approach somewhat. The symptoms that you describe can be called Atypical TN, although some of these neural condition terms can get technical. While there may be a little relief in having a name for this condition, we need to understand the cause. And Even though some Dentists, et al. , can worsen the problem with their Clumsy and primitive procedures, We've ended up in their chair because of health problems. ( Its certainly not that we would choose any of this. ) It is beyond my range to decide whether there's been wrong doing.
Fortunately, I can pass some info about what's brought relief from this condition. There is inflamation and there is infection. Reduce acids that are causing this. Because of Ted's posts to us here , for which I'm so grateful, I've realized repeatedly that so very much of my nerve pain, neuropathy, neuritis, neuralgia, neurosis, etc. , is a direct result of too many acids in the wrong place. This procedure is one of the most difficult ones I've tried. Its the best. I call it "acid accounting". (sorry its corny, maybe someone more poetic can improve this) Simple sugars of course are a cause, but I've had to press this much further. I'm one of the folks that has to suspend or minimize the use of ACV, citrus, citric acid, and even citrates for now. I keep finding new ones, most recently stearic acid, high amounts are found in chocolate. (sorry y'all) While we need good acid in the stomach, colon, vagina, etc. , we need to find ways keep acid in the right place, stop leaking it, and flush excess acid.
One of the kidneys many jobs is to rinse excess acid, so I recommend that we treat kidneys well. (dandelion root and leaf, marshmallow root, nettles, and lots of celery. ) Another kidney function is to balance electolytes. (there are also Other endocrine and exocrine glands that help with this, but the kidneys are a master. ) Magnesium supplementation stopped the shocks and helped much of the pain and inflammation. 6yrs ago, I began with 400 to 600mgs magnesium citrate In divided doses daily. Now Ive switched to Epsom Salts, 14 to 12 tsp. Daily. (It is 39% elemental magnesium) I also recommend a high potassium diet. Try to get 8grams daily or more. That's alot of chewing. Make vegetable juices and soups. Have some fruits with care, slow the delivery of sugars with a light Saute in coconut oil and sea salt. Get a nutrition almanac and search for high potassium foods. (careful with citric acid , high in tomatoes, simmer well. )
My best results with mouth infections have been with an iodine rinse. It may need to be rather strong, 6 drops 2% lugol's in 2oz. Water swished and held , like oil pulling For 1 to 3 minutes 2 to 4 times Daily. I also still use goldenseal tincture, but iodine goes deeper to the root. Someone posted that their TN was relieved with the herb bark called "toothache tree". (zanthoxylum clava, and zanthoxylum americanum), commonly called, prickly ash. Thanks Y'all, Connie
General Feedback
Posted by Susu (Sacramento, Ca) on 01/09/2011
I'm not a doctor but in my opinion, even though you aren't having all of the symptoms, you still may have it. I had it after some dental work with what felt like electrical shocks but the pain without the shocks was also unbearable. All of my teeth hurt and it felt like my gums were going into spasms. I couldn't sleep because of the pain, I could barely drive a car and I was still working full time. I found a doctor who would give me vicodin and I was able to keep working and driving, etc. I tried acupunture, and a few other therapies that didn't work but finally went to a homeopath who adjusted my neck. I think he said it was the C4 vertebrae.
General Feedback
Posted by Tom (Regina, Sk) on 01/08/2011
Sonia:
It looks like no one has replied to you, and since you're in dire straits I'll try to give you some information which unfortunately is not from first-hand experience until hopefully someone else replies.
First , to your question, here's a good medical description of true TN:
Physical damage to the nerve caused by dental or surgical procedures, injury to the face or infections.
Here's the trigeminal (aka semilunar) ganglia, splitting to each side:
http://img.medscape.com/pi/emed/ckb/neurosurgery/247017-1505614-248933-1879073.jpg
More images of same:
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=TRIGEMINAL NERVE&go=&form=QBLH&scope=images&filt=all
I assume you are in too much pain to try things like oil-pulling, or even swishing some colloidal silver around orally?
It is very likely that you have nerve trauma, not an infection, and that the pain should decrease slowly as the nerves heal and rejoin. To that end, and I realize you may not be able to eat much if at all, you want to speed up the nerves healing with a few nutrients:
Can you afford, or do you even have access to, a naturo who can give you Vitamin B12 injections by needle? This is used by people with nerve problems, like MS patients and people with TN. If not available or too expensive, can you get a bottle of B12 sublingual 1000 ug or even 5000 ug tablets?
Do you have a basic lecithin supplement handy, in any form like granules, capsules, or bulk container? It has a small percent of sphingolipids in it, which are important in forming the nerve myelin (outer insulation sheath).
The above 2 will require NO chewing action, very important.
Hopefully it needs only time and nutrition to heal, since any oral surgeon doing additional work cannot guarantee that you won't be worse off than when you went in.
It would be good if someone with first-hand knowledge could reply to you while you're healing.
General Feedback
Posted by Sonia (Green Brook, Nj) on 01/06/2011
I have constant pain on on my teeth where an dental implant was removed due to severe pain since removal pain is constant on my right upper jaw with radiating to cheek bone, constant pain and burning. Is this trigeminal neuralgia because I never felt shocking or numbness or tingling? I have taken Lyric , carbamazipine and afraid to do anymore dental work , I use a topical anesthetic compounded by my dentist which helps pain. I WANT CURE. PLEASE HELP I AM WILLING TO TRY ANYTHING AND WILLING TO SHARE RESULTS. PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR SYMPTOMS, PROPER THERAPY SO I CAN FOLLOW. WHAT IS TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA HOW DID I DEVELOP AFTER DENTAL PROCEDURE AND HOW CAN I WARN OTHERS? THANK YOU AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU
Laser Treatment
Posted by Daniela (Toronto, Ontario Canada) on 12/21/2010
★★★★★
My mother was diagnosed with TN over a month ago. She received treatment and is almost pain free after two weeks. She was treated at the lasermed centre in Myrtle Beach. They have been helping patients become pain and drug free from TN since 2006. She was in so much pain she wasn't eating, sleeping or drinking because the pain was unbearable. The treatment is non-invasive and I spoke to numerous patients in the clinic on a daily basis that were getting tremendous relief from the treatments. The laser is FDA approved and there are no short or long term side effects. If you are suffering with this disease you have nothing to lose, please they can offer you hope and I witnessed it with my own eyes. Don't suffer with this disease any longer than you have to. The medication they prescribe is horrible and the surgeries were not an option for us.
Supplements
Posted by Bonnie (Hilton Head, Sc) on 08/26/2010
Could you please tell me how long before you noticed significant improvement? Also why do you think the Phosphatitdyl serine was the most effective? I am just now trying to get help using natural remedies.
Peppermint Gum
Posted by Mag (Edinburgh, Scotland) on 08/16/2010
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
Hi, as like what Melissa said, chewing gum triggers my TN off, so be careful, good luck though x
Setting Boundaries
Posted by Ann (Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Usa) on 07/19/2010
Hi, Just found your comment as well as the site. I believe I am having a mild bout of TN. But as I have had a number of patients with it, I am able to hypothesize that that is what's going on with me. I hope you are doing better. I am a psychologist who specializes in helping people with chronic pain. I suffer myself from Rheumatoid Arthritis which I was diagnosed with at age 3. Anyway I cannot stress enough the importance of meditating. It is essential for anyone under chronic stress and or chronic pain which of course is a stressor. It takes a lot of guts to deal with pain but there are some important strategies that help. My best to you and your fight. Ann
Peppermint Gum
Posted by Melissa (Chattanooga, Tennessee) on 03/25/2010
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
Just a word of caution for those of us with TN and not ATN. Chewing is a trigger of pain for most of us. So gum chewing is usually not advised.
B12, Omega 3, Facial Tissue Stimulation
Posted by Jackie (Cape Coral, Florida) on 03/01/2010
Dear Veerle (from Belgium)
I read your post regarding the use of Omega3 & B12. My wife suffers from TN. I have passed on the info gleaned from your post. She is taking two capsules of Omega3, twice a day. Plus one B12 capsule in the morning (1500mg).
She isn't one to take medication if at all possible. However, the pain associated with TN forces her to take 75mg (three tabs) at bedtime. If she would follow the doctors advice the dosage would be far greater.
Thanks a million for the info. Please feel free to share any other info that you come by. We will continue seeking info and relief. Spoke to her about acupuncture, but she's not leaning in that direction. We'll see! Thanks again, and good fortune in your search for relief. 'JR'
Peppermint Gum
Posted by Teresa (Ipswich, Ma) on 02/23/2010
★★★★★
You know I've actually noticed this but I assumed it was because of the jaw movements rather than the pepperment. I originally chewed the gum for fresh breath. I was also spoken to for chewing gum at school.
Supplements
Posted by Carol (Fairfield, Ct) on 02/07/2010
★★★★★
I have had this trigeminal neuralgia for too long. The side of my face was a piercing electrical shocking feeling, that would send me flying. I believe that this had some bearing on high blood pressure. Because of other health issues, I started taking 1000 mg fish oil, magnesium citrate, 500 mg, Liquid B12, and Phosphatitdyl Serine, 100 mg, before going to bed. . I am almost totally without pain. I had gone to two dentists, because it appeared it was pain stemming from teeth. Not so. I have had luck with this regimen, that I purchased at the health food store. I really believe that the phosphatidyl serine is the curing factor that has helped. My theory is that this being a facial disorder, and phosphatidyl may just heal the nerves causing the pain. Try this for some help!! My blood pressure is also stabilized. Good luck!!
General Feedback
Posted by Kay (In The Valley, Ca) on 12/20/2009
Shawanna from Chapel Hill, I have a very dear friend that suffers from this same problem and has found no relief. Could you let us know what remedies your mother tries and what does and doesn't work for her. I wish her luck with this very painful, life altering condition. Thanks for sharing with us.
General Feedback
Posted by Shawanna (Chapel Hill, North Carolina Orange) on 12/19/2009
Hello, i just wanted to let you know these post have been very helpful. My mother who is 40, is suffering from Trigeminal Neuralgia. It saddens me to see her depressed everyday! She is scared to have any surgeries done, but i hope some of these home remedies help. Again, thanks!
Vitamin B Depleted by Flax Seed Connection
Posted by J (Houston, Tx) on 11/01/2009
Wow, it's really surprising to hear that there are some negative attributes to flax seed. Congratulations on your healing.
Setting Boundaries
Posted by Elizabeth (Buchanan, MI) on 04/30/2009
I've had nerve blocks, lyrica, tegretol, neuronton, marinol(marijuana relieves the pain temporarily), migraine meds+++ I'm a guinea pig for the pharmaceutical companies. I've had 6+ jaw surgeries and facial reconstruction surgery with 3 bone graphs which I think caused this pain.
I suffer terribly from trigeminal neuralgia. When I have an emotional upset, the pain elevates... intolerable, + extreme...I'm a very emotional person who has been suffering from the pain for 10+ years. I've been on every prescription possible with no relief and adverse side effects.
When I read your comment, I was very curious as to how much pain you have endured and how you can control not giving your power away. I do everything for everyone anytime and rarely receive anything in return. Sometimes, I think that I should live alone for the rest of my life because any conflict triggers the neuralgia pain. I should move to a remote place where I'm the only human.
Stress is killing me...or at least it feels like I'm dying slowly from the pain.
Please let me know some of your secrets to holding onto your power and not giving sooooo much.
I look forward to hearing from you....Pleeeeeeeeease!!!
I have an appoinment coming up with the U of M...costs $400+ and I don't feel confident about the doctors at all.
Thank You
Oil Pulling
Posted by Gary Tovey (Edmoton, Alberta Canada) on 03/19/2009
Sorry for using this way of contacting you, but I did not see anyware to place a post. So my question is do you know if this Oil Pulling has helped any one with Trigeminal Nerve disorder?
Gary Tovey
Setting Boundaries
Posted by Jackie (UK) on 03/12/2009
★★★★★
Hi I also suffered trigeminal pain really terrible .. I noticed it was linked to a pattern of being weak in relationships (not standing up for myself) ... everytime it happened I had a flare up. I had to become more empowered and everytime I started saying No to others .. the pain faded away. Very rarely now do I feel a twinge and I always know that I must be giving my power away normally because I don't like to upset others. I can't afford that luxury now!
B12, Omega 3, Facial Tissue Stimulation
Posted by Bridget (Hamilton, NJ) on 03/10/2009
I have been using acupuncture to successfully treat Trigeminal Neuralgia. Was on medicines but the side effects were too much to handle. The constant pain from TN have been greatly reduced by acupuncture. 25 points, once a week. At first it took three times a week to produce a change, then twice a week, I am now down to once per week. Give it a try.
B12, Omega 3, Facial Tissue Stimulation
Posted by Martha (Baltimore, Maryland) on 10/18/2008
I was wondering what kind of exerciese you did, how much b12 and fish oil did you take. I have TN and looking for alternative treatment. Docs not put me on meds and after reading about them I really don't want to go there.
Vitamin B Depleted by Flax Seed Connection
Posted by Hartensia (Houston, Texas) on 07/15/2008
★★★★★
After living with Trigeminal Neuralgia for about 4 years I was at the end of my rope. I had tried everything but nothing seem to help, but I searched on. On day I came across a article that said Flaxseed and Flaxseed oil sometimes effects the effectiveness of vitamin B. I was amazed, I love flaxseed and the oil and use them daily. I decided to stop my flaxseed uses and try vitamins again. Praise God it worked. It has only been six days but each day the pain is less and less, today I am about 75% pain-free. I hope this helps someone.
B12, Omega 3, Facial Tissue Stimulation
Posted by Veerle (Belgium) on 09/02/2006
★★★★★
After trying several regular treatements for trigeminal neuralgia in all 3 branches on boh sides of my face, like antidepressants and anti convulsion medications, I ended up with no less pain and a truely scary list of side effects. Not wanting to undergo surgery due to the amount of my face involved and my still young age, I was about 18 when it started, I decided to start looking for alternatives without having to resort to iffy branches of alternative medicine.
In cooperation with 2 friends of my parents, a doctor and a physical therapist, we did a lot of research and ended up with a combined treatment of stimulating and strengthening my facial and neck tissue and high doses of B12 vitamins and omega3.
In addition I started on an extensive, but non straining exercise program to regain my overall health wich had suffered from years of severe pain that often prevented me from doing anything for days or sometimes weeks on end. I also dropped the regular medication since the side effects were so severe they were a problem in itself. Although my recovery was not speedy, I started to notice improvement after about 3 weeks. The pain was still a prominent factor in my life, but was less and less out of control. After about 2 months, I had a virtualy painless period that lasted for about 2 weeks and a half. This may not seem like much, but to me that was the first real painless period in 2 years. The pain came back, but from then on periods were shorter and the pain didn't peak as often. After about 6 months, I had gotten to a point where I could start picking up my life again. severe pain periods only occured about once a month or less and only lasted 2 to 3 days. Verry mild background pain was still present though. I continued the treatment and am now virtualy pain free, not needing the facial stimulation treatment and on far a lower dose of B12 and omega3. If I do feel pain comming up again, it is never as severe and it is enough to up my daily dose of B12 for about 2 weeks to be completely free of symptoms.
Peppermint Gum
Posted by Michele (Oak Hills, FL) on 12/07/2006
★★★★★
For the Trigeminal Neuralgia heading, I wanted to mention that I've had ATN (constant pain in T2 and T3) for nearly three years due to an incompetent dentist. Prior to diagnosis, I was trying all kinds of things to stop the pain. I discovered just about any kind of peppermint gum (preferably the kind with a hard shell initially) will stop or greatly reduce the pain within a minute or two. As long as I can taste the peppermint flavor as I'm chewing, the pain is reduced. As the flavor goes away, the pain comes back. Now that I've been diagnosed and am on medications, I still chew gum in the afternoons when the pills decide they're not going to work anymore! This is very helpful when I'm driving somewhere and would prefer not to cry. Oh, peppermint flavored mouthwash does the trick, too. Do some major swishing for at least two minutes, and afterwards, your mouth will feel a lot better.
